Valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly for use in an animal feeding teat and an animal feeding teat in combination with the above valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a piston shaft with a piston head, a valve head attached to the piston shaft at the end of the shaft opposite the piston head, and a biasing structure co-operable with the piston head, so that in use in an animal feeding teat the valve head is seated to cover a first aperture in the teat and pressure on the piston head against the biasing structure will unseat the valve head and open the aperture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a valve assembly.

The valve assembly of an embodiment of the present invention isparticularly adapted to be used within an animal feeding teat. However,other uses of the valve assembly of the present invention are alsocontemplated.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Traditionally animal feeding teats operate by the feeding animal suckingon the teat to start the flow of liquid. The disadvantage of such teatassembly is that if the opening in the nipple of the teat becomes rippedor broken, the liquid will spill out of the teat even when the animal isnot sucking on the teat. Other traditional teats also have thedisadvantage that once liquid is flowing through the teat, it will onlystop once all the liquid is emptied from the receptacle the teat isattached to. This can cause the animal feeding from the teat to choke onthe liquid, or allow spillage and waste of liquid.

Another disadvantage of many traditional feeding teat assemblies is thatif the animal pulls the teat to one side, liquid will not flow throughthe teat. Such teats need to be kept substantially in line with theliquid outlet to operate.

Some teats known in the art contain a valve assembly which operatesunder the force of gravity to close the valve once it has been opened.The disadvantage of such a teat valve assembly is that it will onlyoperate effectively if the teat is substantially vertical to the ground.

One such invention is described in NZ 110 435. This patent discloses atubular nozzle that is attached to a container and fitted with aninternal rubber covered valve. The free peripheral edge of the nozzle isformed into an upturned flange with curled portion of a flexible teatfitting over and between the flange and the perpendicular wall of thenozzle, with a portion of the teat lying flat against the wall to makean airtight seal. The valve is gravity operated and the teat must behanging vertically or near vertically for the valve to close.

The invention described in NZ 102 401 is a tubular nozzle fitted to thelower end of a food containing vessel with a resilient teat attached toits end. Inside the nozzle is a valve which consists of a metallicball-head with a depending stem to the lower end of which is fitted arubber knob. When an animal sucks the teat, the valve is displacedupwardly and liquid can flow through the teat. When the animal releasesthe teat, the valve is closed by gravity and no liquid can flow. Thisconstruction is also limited to use where the teat hangs vertically ornear vertically.

The invention described in NZ 39 125 comprises a containing-vessel for aliquid with a concave or sloping bottom, an angular outlet with a rubberteat at the end thereof for an animal to suck. Within the vessel is afloat valve, which may be closed against its seat by the operation of afloat or by hand.

In NZ 35 868, there is described a means employed for feeding calves andthe like with liquid food. According to this invention, a reservoir forthe liquid has a false bottom in which is a valve adapted to close bygravity. A sliding tray beneath the bottom is provided with a float uponone end of a pivoted lever, the other end of which engages a downwardlyprojecting stem of the valve. The liquid in the tray is thus kept at apredetermined level by the rise and fall of the float. A branch pipefrom the tray is connected by a rubber tube or similar flexibleconnector with a running-pipe supplying the liquid to the animals.Wastage is prevented by locating the orifices from the pipe to the teatson a level with, or slightly higher than, the surface of the liquid inthe tray.

The invention in U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,769 discloses a teat comprising ahollow body made of a resilient material. The body has an inlet and anoutlet end. The outlet end includes at least one slit through the wallof the body. This slit(s) does not extend into that area of the wall ofthe body which forms the extremity of the outer end. Engaged with theinlet end is a valve biased by a spring. As an animal suckles on theteat a pressure differential forms within. This suction causes the valveto open allowing liquid to fill the teat. When the suction is removedthe valve closes. The closed valve prevents any backflow when the teatis squeezed.

GB 2 267 549 discloses a teat valve comprising an apertured closuremember which co-operates with a tubular seat and an elastic sleeve whichhouses both the member and the seat and urges them into sealingengagement. When the sleeve is stretched, the valve opens allowingpassage of liquids/solubles and gases, and when released returns to itsoriginal position, thus closing the valve.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve assemblyadapted for use in an animal feeding teat which will go some way towardsovercoming the above-mentioned disadvantages or which will at leastprovide the public with a useful choice.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This invention can be said broadly to consist in a valve assemblyadapted for use in an animal feeding teat, said valve assemblycomprising

a piston shaft with a piston head,

a valve head attached to the piston shaft at the end of the shaftopposite the piston head, and

biasing means co-operable with said piston head,

so that in use in an animal feeding teat said valve head is seated tocover a first aperture in said teat and pressure applied by said animalon said teat causes said teat to act directly on said piston head tomove said valve assembly against said biasing means to unseat said valvehead and open said aperture.

Preferably the piston head is bulbous in shape.

Preferably the piston head is tapered at the end remote from the valvehead.

Preferably the biasing means is a spring.

Preferably the spring is a coil spring.

Most preferably the spring is comprised of stainless steel.

Preferably the spring is coiled around the piston shaft.

Preferably the piston head contains at least one recess.

Preferably the piston shaft, piston head and valve head are formed asone unit. Preferably that unit is comprised of nylon.

The invention can also be said broadly to consist in a combination of ananimal feeding teat with the valve assembly described above.

Preferably the teat comprises:

an outer casing,

a first aperture at one end of the casing connectable to a source offluid, through which the valve head of the valve assembly protrudes, and

at least one second aperture in the outer casing through which liquidcan flow to feed the animal,

whereby when pressure is applied onto the piston head, the valve head isunseated from the first aperture to allow fluid to flow through thefirst aperture into the outer casing and subsequently out of the secondaperture and closes when the pressure is removed from said piston head.

In one alternative the pressure is applied by an animal's mouth or teeththrough said outer casing. In another alternative the pressure isapplied by the atmosphere on the outer casing when an animal sucks onthe teat thereby creating a partial vacuum within the teat.

Preferably the second aperture is located at the opposite end of thecasing from the end where the valve head protrudes.

Preferably the teat is comprised of either a durable pliant syntheticmaterial or rubber. The rubber may be natural or synthetic.

The invention may further be said to broadly consist in an animalfeeding teat adapted to allow incorporation of the valve assemblydescribed above.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in a valve assemblysubstantially as herein described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention may also be said to broadly consist in an animal feedingteat substantially as herein described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in a combinationsubstantially as herein described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts,elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification ofthe application, individually or collectively, and any or allcombinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, andwhere specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually setforth.

This invention consists in the foregoing and also envisagesconstructions of which the following gives examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the valve assembly of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional side elevation view of the valve assembly ofthe present invention when located inside a teat and wherein the valvehead is in a closed position.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional side elevation view of the valve assembly ofthe present invention when located inside a teat and wherein the valvehead is in an open position.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the piston head viewed from theleft side of FIG. 1.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the valveassembly is comprised of a piston shaft 10 with a piston head 12attached. In a preferred form of the invention the piston head 12 isbulbous, tapered to a point 13 and contains two recesses (38, 38) thatassist in the flow of fluid through the teat. A valve head 14 isconnected to the piston shaft 10, at the opposite end of the shaft 10from the piston head 12. A biasing means 16 rests against the pistonhead 12 and is located along the piston shaft 10. Preferably the biasingmeans 16 is a spring. Preferably the spring is a coil spring. Mostpreferably the spring is comprised of stainless steel.

Optionally, the piston head 12, piston shaft 10 and valve head 14 may bemoulded as one piece of material. The material is preferably nylon butany other inert rigid material would be suitable.

FIGS. 2 and 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein the valve assembly is substantially contained within an animalfeeding teat 17. The valve assembly may be fitted inside the animalfeeding teat 17 by passing the valve assembly piston head 12 firstthrough the second aperture 22 and then through the guideway 32 until itis in the position as shown in FIG. 2.

The embodiment in the figures shows the teat fitted to an undefinedreceptacle 20. The teat may be fitted to an animal feeding bowl, abottle, or a hose without departing from the scope of the invention.Fittings for use in hose types are well known in the dairying industry.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the animal feeding teat 17 iscomprised of an outer casing 18 having a head portion 24, a shoulderportion 26 and a neck portion 28 between the head and shoulder portion.The outer casing 18 has a first aperture 22 and a second aperture 30.The valve head 14 of the valve assembly protrudes through the firstaperture 22 at one end of the outer casing 18.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the animal feedingteat 17 is attached to a receptacle 20 (the boundary of which is shownby broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3) at the end of the casing whichcontains the first aperture 22. The teat 17 may be passed from theoutside of the receptacle, aperture end 22 first, through a circularhole in the receptacle 20 until the edge of the hole rests in afluid—tight fit in neck portion 28 of teat 17. Alternatively, the teatis passed from the inside of the receptacle, aperture end 30 firstthrough a circular hole in the receptacle until the edge of the holerests in a fluid-tight fit in the neck portion 28 of the teat. As shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve head 14 protrudes from the first aperture 22and is located inside the receptacle 20.

The head and shoulder portion 24, 26 are solid apart from a guideway 32through the centre. The piston shaft 10 moves freely within the guideway32. The spring in conjunction with the convex valve head 14 act to keepthe valve assembly in a centred position. The piston shaft is of adiameter small enough to allow fluid to flow freely through theguideway.

The receptacle 20 is intended to contain a liquid. The liquid may bemilk or other animal feed. The liquid may comprise nutrients ormedicinal supplements. In use, the valve head 14 is thus submerged inliquid within the receptacle 20, and the outer casing 18 may protrudefrom the receptacle substantially horizontally or downwardly. The valveassembly of the present invention will operate effectively whenpositioned at any angle.

The valve assembly of the present invention operates as follows. Ananimal exerts pressure in the direction of the arrows A by biting orsqueezing the teat (see FIG. 3). This pressure forces the piston head 12to move in the direction of the arrow B and compresses the biasing means16. This in turn moves the valve head 14 away from the first aperture22. In FIG. 3 the valve head 14 is thus unseated from the aperture 22.This allows the flow of liquid from the receptacle 20, through the firstaperture 22 into the teat 17, then through the second aperture 30 andinto the animal's mouth.

When the animal releases its bite and pressure is removed from the outercasing 18 and the piston head 12, the biasing means 16 forces the pistonhead 12 to move in the direction of the arrow E (see FIG. 2) and returnsthe valve head 14 to seat over the first aperture 22 and thus preventthe flow of liquid through the first aperture 22 and into the teat 17.

In an alternative embodiment it is the atmosphere that applies pressurein the direction of arrows A. This happens when a partial vacuum iscreated inside that teat as a result of an animal sucking on the teat.In the same manner as described above, the pressure forces the pistonhead 12 to move in the direction of the arrow B and compresses thebiasing means 16. This in turn moves the valve head 14 away from thefirst aperture 22. In FIG. 3 the valve head 14 is thus unseated from theaperture 22. This allows the flow of liquid from the receptacle 20,through the first aperture 22 into the teat 17, then through the secondaperture 30 and into the animal's mouth.

When the animal stops sucking the pressure differential dissipates,effectively removing the pressure from the outer casing 18 and thepiston head 12, the biasing means 16 forces the piston head 12 to movein the direction of the arrow E (see FIG. 2) and returns the valve head14 to seat over the first aperture 22 and thus prevent the flow ofliquid through the first aperture 22 and into the teat 17.

The advantages of the valve assembly when contained within an animalfeeding teat as described herein are as follows. The teat valve assemblyof the present invention can operate effectively at any angle. It is notrestricted to use in a vertical position as it is not reliant upongravity forces to close the valve to prevent the flow of liquid from theteat.

A further advantage is that the teat valve assembly operates effectivelyeven when there is a large aperture in the nipple of the teat. Intraditional animal feeding teats that do not have a shut-off valve, onlysmall apertures can be used in the teat nipple or liquid will spill outvery easily. The advantage of such a large aperture in the nipple of theteat is that foreign bodies are less likely to get caught therein andthus the teat is more hygienic.

The teat valve assembly of the present invention is easy for animals,such as lambs or calves, to feed from. This is because the animal needonly squeeze or bite the teat to start the flow of liquid. Incomparison, many traditional teats require the animal to suck the teator squeeze up and down on the teat to obtain liquid. The teat valveassembly will also operate to open the valve and allow the flow ofliquid when the teat is pulled forcefully to the side.

It is envisaged that the valve assembly of the present invention couldbe inserted into any standard or conventional teat to operate. However,the present application describes a preferential embodiment of a teatinto which the valve assembly of the present invention can be inserted.

Even if the outer teat becomes worn or damaged, the valve assembly willcontinue to operate and effectively, preventing the flow of liquidunless pressure is applied to the piston head. If the outer teat becomescompletely destroyed, it is envisaged that the valve assembly could berecycled and placed in a new outer casing or teat.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of a valve assembly and an animalfeeding teat, said teat including: an outer casing having a resilientlyflexible teat part, the resiliently flexible teat part having two ends,one of said two ends being connectable to a source of fluid and theother of said two ends allowing the fluid to flow to feed an animal, afirst aperture located at the one end of the casing for communicationwith the source of fluid, a second aperture located at the other end ofthe casing through which the fluid flows to feed the animal, said valveassembly including: a valve member including a piston shaft with apiston head located at a first end of said piston shaft and a valve headlocated at an opposite second end of the piston shaft, said piston shaftbeing moveably mounted relative to said teat so that said valve head ofsaid valve member is seated against said first aperture on one side andsaid piston head is on an opposite side of said first aperture, and aspring co-operable with said piston head, said spring biasing said valvemember so that said valve head normally covers said first aperture atleast when said teat and valve assembly are in a substantiallyhorizontal orientation, and allows pressure on said piston head againstsaid spring from forces acting on said resiliently flexible teat part tounseat said valve head and open said first aperture to allow fluid toflow through said first aperture into said outer casing and subsequentlyout of said second aperture and closes said first aperture with a biasforce when the forces acting on said resiliently deformable flexibleteat part are removed.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein saidpiston head is bulbous in shape.
 3. The combination of claim 1, whereinthe piston head is tapered at the end remote from the valve head.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a spring.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said piston head contains at least onerecess.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said piston shaft, pistonhead and valve head are formed as one unit.
 8. The combination of claim7, wherein the unit is comprised of nylon.
 9. The combination of claim1, wherein said teat is comprised of a durable pliant syntheticmaterial.
 10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said teat is comprisedof rubber.
 11. The combination of claim 1, wherein said spring biasessaid valve head to cover said first aperture when said piston shaft isin any orientation.
 12. The combination of claim 3, wherein said pistonhead is substantially conical in shape.
 13. The combination of claim 1,wherein said valve head bears directly against said casing to cover saidfirst aperture.